WATCH: A tent city has sprung up outside Nanaimo City Hall. Those involved say helping the homeless should be a top priority in the city and they’re upset the city lost $7 million in funding for a supportive housing project slated for the city’s south end. But the mayor says he believes the province will have money for supportive housing available once the city finds an appropriate site. Kendall Hanson reports.
People are showing their displeasure at the loss of funding for a new supportive housing project in Nanaimo by setting up a tent city near the front doors of city hall.
Nanaimo lost $7 million of provincial funding for the project because of problems to find a suitable location.
Protests at Nanaimo City Hall with a tent city. People are protesting last week’s loss of $7 million of provincial funding for a supportive housing project.
“With the city of Nanaimo rejecting $7 million in provincial funding just by playing politics in an election season we decided that something needs to be done,” said community advocate Matthew O’Donnell.
But the mayor insists that despite the setback, tackling homelessness remains a top priority
“Did we drop the ball? No,” says Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay. “This council made it very clear that they were not prepared to go ahead simply because funding was put in front of us to go ahead just on the funding side of things without doing an adequate consultation with the community.”
The province confirms money will stay on the table through 2018 but the $7 million earmarked for the Nanaimo project will now be spent elsewhere
Back in front of city hall, the consensus is help can’t come soon enough,
“We also need to start looking at more immediate solutions to this problem,” said O’Donnell. “We can’t wait for the second round of funding. There’s people on the streets right now. There’s people overdosing right now and there are people dying here right now.”
RCMP say they’re are keeping on eye on the protest but won’t be moving any of the campers for now.
In a statement last week, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said given the significant need for housing, the funds will go to a community that has identified a site and is ready to partner with the province.
Strong opposition from residents of the Chase River neighbourhood proposed for the project forced the council to reconsider.
Mayor Bill McKay blamed the funding loss to confusion and a lack of communication between the province, council and city staff.
A Nanaimo councillor says the city’s own policies made it impossible to find an acceptable, appropriately zoned location.
On Friday, the province announced it will be putting 6.9 million dollars toward a similar housing project in Parksville.
The plan will see 50 modular housing units on Corfield Street South.
The site will be operated by the Island Crisis Care society.
The province hopes to have the housing open by early 2019 and will take public feedback at an open house on March 20.
A tent city at Nanaimo City Hall Monday morning. People are protesting the loss of funding for a new supportive housing project.
Andy Neal
